Wednesday 16 June 2010

Le Château de la Selve, a pearl in Ardeche...



Few weeks ago, I had the chance to try some beautiful wine from the Château de La Selve. This wine estate situated in the heart of Ardeche grow vine with total respect for his beautiful surronding. Her the vines needs to be very resistant to the different temperature all around the year. And the soil most of the time of limestone give a typical minerality to the wines.

Let start with the rose wine L'audacieuse 2009 (Syrah/Grenache Base)
With a light salmon color this wine secret some sweet aromas of white peach and citrus, on the palate is velvety, fresh and long lasting. A perfect drink, for the coming summer.

Then the white Madame de 2009 (100% Viognier)
I'm a big fan of viognier and this one on the nose had typical aromas of lime tree and acacia. The palate is very fresh with a great vivacity for a viognier quite short but beautiful. A great wine that's shown all the potential of this area.

And the red :

Serre de Berty 2006 (60% Syrah, Merlot, Grenache/Cinsault)
A very shiny dark dress for this non-filtered wine. On the nose it's typical of a great syrah pepper aroma with a hint undergrowth and dry blood. The palate is rich complex on aromas of tabacco, leather and peppery.
It's a long gard wine that you can keep in your cellar for over 10 years.

Florence 2007 (60% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% Cinsault and a hint of Viognier)
Beautiful purple color. Not to intense. Nose of black cherry and pepper. A hint of limestone. The palate is quite velvety, the black cherry notes still present, complex and long finish. A great Rhone Valley wine.